Ball State University Athletics
Tuesday, February 28
Akron, Ohio
7 p.m.
Ball State University
at
Akron
Photo by: Grace Walton - BSU Creative Services
Cardinals Flock to Akron for Matchup with Zips
February 27, 2023 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team takes to the road for the final time in the regular season with a contest against Akron on Tuesday. The Cardinals (20-9, 11-5 MAC) and the Zips (20-9, 12-4 MAC) are slated for a 7 p.m. tip.
Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.
Last Time Out
Ball State looks to bounce back after a tough road loss to Eastern Michigan, 75-68. Demarius Jacobs led BSU with 19 points, five assists, and four steals. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds. Jaylin Sellers chipped in with 14 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Mickey Pearson Jr. finished with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Basheer Jihad led the Cardinals with eight rebounds to go along with nine points and a team-high two blocks.
Boogie on Down
Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 68 made 3-pointers and is shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 110 assists and leads the squad in steals with 40. Coleman has added 10 blocks. He has compiled five games of 20 or more points. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second on the team with 13.8 points per game. He is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is averaging 3.6 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 50.2 on the season. Sellers has collected 24 assists, 18 steals, and 15 blocks. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season, including back-to-back games.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for 54th in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.25 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 28th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.8 points per game. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field, which leads the team. He has nine double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 53rd in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 54 assists, second on the team with 24 blocks, and has added 14 steals.
Spreading the Love
The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points. Demarius Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.1 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 112th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. His 1.21 blocks per contest is tied for 125th in the nation and tied for first in the conference. He second on the team in assists with 97 and is second on the team in steals with 39. He is averaging 3.9 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.9 points a game. Pearson is shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.6 free throws per game, which is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.8 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 15th in the nation and is best in the conference. Sparks is 12th in the nation with 203 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 46.9 percent from the field, which is 50th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 37th in the country and is third in the MAC.
Series History with Akron
Ball State and Akron will meet for the 48th time on Tuesday. The Zips have the series advantage 28-19. The Cardinals won the meeting earlier this season, 70-63, in Muncie. Ball State snapped a five-game losing streak to Akron. BSU is 6-16 at Akron.
Scouting the Zips
In the matchup earlier this season, Enrique Freeman posted a double-double for the Zips with 23 points and 14 rebounds, both a game high. He also led the team with two blocks, two steals, and one assist. Greg Trimble was the only other Akron player in double figures with 14. Xavier Castaneda leads the Zip with 21.5 points per game, which is 12th in the NCAA and best in the MAC. He leads the team with 77 assists. He is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game to go along with 27 steals and three blocks. Castaneda is sixth in the NCAA with 3.56 3-pointers per game, which is tops in the conference. Freeman leads the team in rebounding and is averaging a double-double per game. He is collecting 11.1 boards per game with 15.9 points a contest. He is sixth in the NCAA with 16 double-doubles, which leads the conference. His 11.1 boards per game are fourth in the nation and best in the MAC. He paces the Zips with 34 blocks. Freeman has 58 assists and 18 steals.
Tale of the Tape
MAC Conference Standings
1. Toledo – 23-6 (14-2)
2. Kent State – 23-6 (13-3)
3. Akron – 20-9 (12-4)
4. Ball State – 20-9 (11-5)
5. Ohio – 17-12 (9-7)
6. Northern Illinois – 12-17 (8-8)
7. Buffalo – 13-16 (7-9)
8. Miami – 11-18 (5-11)
9. Central Michigan – 10-19 (5-11)
10. Eastern Michigan – 8-21 (5-11)
11. Bowling Green – 10-19 (4-12)
12. Western Michigan – 7-22 (3-13)
All of BSU's games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network on Woof Boom stations 96.7 FM, 102.9 FM, 104.9 FM, WLBC HD2, and the stream of 967BlakeFM.com as well as WERKFM.net.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.
Last Time Out
Ball State looks to bounce back after a tough road loss to Eastern Michigan, 75-68. Demarius Jacobs led BSU with 19 points, five assists, and four steals. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds. Jaylin Sellers chipped in with 14 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Mickey Pearson Jr. finished with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Basheer Jihad led the Cardinals with eight rebounds to go along with nine points and a team-high two blocks.
Boogie on Down
Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 68 made 3-pointers and is shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 110 assists and leads the squad in steals with 40. Coleman has added 10 blocks. He has compiled five games of 20 or more points. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second on the team with 13.8 points per game. He is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is averaging 3.6 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 50.2 on the season. Sellers has collected 24 assists, 18 steals, and 15 blocks. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season, including back-to-back games.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for 54th in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.25 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 28th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.8 points per game. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field, which leads the team. He has nine double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 53rd in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 54 assists, second on the team with 24 blocks, and has added 14 steals.
Spreading the Love
The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points. Demarius Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.1 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 112th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. His 1.21 blocks per contest is tied for 125th in the nation and tied for first in the conference. He second on the team in assists with 97 and is second on the team in steals with 39. He is averaging 3.9 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.9 points a game. Pearson is shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.6 free throws per game, which is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.8 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 15th in the nation and is best in the conference. Sparks is 12th in the nation with 203 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 46.9 percent from the field, which is 50th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 37th in the country and is third in the MAC.
Series History with Akron
Ball State and Akron will meet for the 48th time on Tuesday. The Zips have the series advantage 28-19. The Cardinals won the meeting earlier this season, 70-63, in Muncie. Ball State snapped a five-game losing streak to Akron. BSU is 6-16 at Akron.
Scouting the Zips
In the matchup earlier this season, Enrique Freeman posted a double-double for the Zips with 23 points and 14 rebounds, both a game high. He also led the team with two blocks, two steals, and one assist. Greg Trimble was the only other Akron player in double figures with 14. Xavier Castaneda leads the Zip with 21.5 points per game, which is 12th in the NCAA and best in the MAC. He leads the team with 77 assists. He is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game to go along with 27 steals and three blocks. Castaneda is sixth in the NCAA with 3.56 3-pointers per game, which is tops in the conference. Freeman leads the team in rebounding and is averaging a double-double per game. He is collecting 11.1 boards per game with 15.9 points a contest. He is sixth in the NCAA with 16 double-doubles, which leads the conference. His 11.1 boards per game are fourth in the nation and best in the MAC. He paces the Zips with 34 blocks. Freeman has 58 assists and 18 steals.
Tale of the Tape
| BSU | Category | UA |
| 76.2 | POINTS PER GAME | 73.0 |
| 69.9 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 64.9 |
| .469 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .439 |
| .434 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .425 |
| .372 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .351 |
| .372 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .337 |
| .683 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .720 |
| 36.4 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 36.0 |
| 3.6 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | 3.5 |
| 13.1 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 13.4 |
| 12.4 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 11.0 |
| -0.5 | TURNOVER MARGIN | 1.2 |
| 5.8 | STEALS PER GAME | 6.2 |
| 3.9 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 2.6 |
MAC Conference Standings
1. Toledo – 23-6 (14-2)
2. Kent State – 23-6 (13-3)
3. Akron – 20-9 (12-4)
4. Ball State – 20-9 (11-5)
5. Ohio – 17-12 (9-7)
6. Northern Illinois – 12-17 (8-8)
7. Buffalo – 13-16 (7-9)
8. Miami – 11-18 (5-11)
9. Central Michigan – 10-19 (5-11)
10. Eastern Michigan – 8-21 (5-11)
11. Bowling Green – 10-19 (4-12)
12. Western Michigan – 7-22 (3-13)
All of BSU's games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network on Woof Boom stations 96.7 FM, 102.9 FM, 104.9 FM, WLBC HD2, and the stream of 967BlakeFM.com as well as WERKFM.net.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
Follow the Cardinals
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